Q: How confidential is the information that I submit to a gaming regulator?

A: Each jurisdiction provides various levels of confidentiality protections for submissions to a gaming commission. As such, it is important to take a conservative approach when disclosing sensitive information while also ensuring that you fully disclose data as requested by the gaming authorities. It is important to label all sensitive information submitted as "confidential" and to consult the gaming and public records laws in the jurisdiction prior to submitting the same to gaming regulators.

Many gaming jurisdictions, including Pennsylvania, Michigan and Illinois, maintain publicly available databases that include the names of each licensed or authorized gaming supplier company. These databases may also include the licensee's corporate address, phone number and dates of licensure. In addition, the names of owners, officers and other registered key persons may be available through Freedom of Information Act requests depending upon the gaming and public records laws of the specific jurisdiction.

Sensitive information related to the company and its key persons, such as proprietary data, trade secrets, tax returns, financial disclosures, familial information, criminal history and employment history, are typically protected from public disclosure. However, as each jurisdiction has different standards, it is important to ensure that such information is not subject to public disclosure before making a submission.